Healthy Feet, Boots vs. Shoes

[Catscradle]

This post started as a response to a post in the Gear section. However I thought I was going astray from the original topic so I decided to start a thread dedicated to it. I then debated whether it belonged in "Gear" or "Health and Fitness", obviously I decided on here.

Originally Posted by Snickers06

... many folks are pushing the trail runners but I'd suggest good lightweight hiking boots. Footware is the most important piece of gear you will ever get because if your feet aren't happy, nothing else matters (we should all put that in gold letters on our mantle pieces!)...
snickers06

I agree happy feet are important. The problem lies in the fact that we have a catch-22 here. When we start hiking or running or anything else that really stresses the feet, our feet like any other part of our body that is underused are not in shape. Therefore, they hurt and maybe our ankles hurt because they are also underused. However, they would get in shape just like our legs and arms do if we just let them do the work. Instead we buy over-cushioned, over-protective boots. Yes, the problem is "solved", but the root cause still exist, namely, weak feet.
Think of what happens when you have a cast on your foot and lower leg, it is an extreme example of what I'm talking about. The foot, ankle, and they're supportive structures (tendons and muscles) weaken. Just as we pay a price of mobility for the cast which allows a broken bone to heal, we pay a price of weight and nimbleness (for lack of a better word) for wearing over built boots.
Boots work for you and probably most people, but a lighter option will work for the vast majority of people if the transition is made in a manner which allows the feet to adapt and strengthen.
In the book Born To Run the author builds the case around an Indian tribe from northern Mexico. They live and rocky, mountainous terrain far from civilization and literally run everywhere. They do all of this in sandles, they'll routinely run 20 miles at a time with no repercussions. If you're a reader I suggest reading Born To Run, it makes the case for minimalist footwear much better than I could ever hope to.
This is just my opinion of course. However, it is an opinion built on 40 years of running in over protective, "scientifically" designed running shoes, and the resultant freedom my feet now have since I transitioned to minimalist running shoes. Actually the transition is still on-going, I wouldn't call what I use now as truly minimalist but several steps in that direction. My feet (and more importantly my knees) have never been happier.
I suppose this thread has the potential to devolve into a flame war, let's not let that happen.

[shelb]

I feel you have a valid point about "over-protecting" when it is not necessary. Yet, from what I gather, people with bad ankles need the protection. One of my teenage sons is quick to sprang an ankle (every track, football, basketball season - at least once). He prefers to hike in boots. However, my other son and I have good ankles; I hike in hiking shoes while he prefers his Keen sandals.

[Snickers06]

Regarding trail runners (ie sneakers) I switch to them in Eastern PA and then switched back to boots in Vermont (lots of mud and puddles). I speak from experience. Major foot pain getting to Inn at Long Trail.

[Stalking Tortoise]

My biggest issue is when a newbie comes along and is told by a veteran hiker that a specific type of footwear is best. I politely disagree, unless the veteran hiker is volunteering to follow the newbie onto the trail and carry him home if things don't work out. Or if the suggestion is coming from the newbie's podiatrist.

I'm one of those people with weak ankles. I train in lightweight trail runners at the gym and while running 5K's. But the last time I tried hiking with them, I ended up with an injured ankle that had me limping for a week. Just last week, within the first hour of a 4-day hike, I rolled an ankle while wearing my boots and was grateful that I had the extra protection.

I don't criticize hikers who wear sandals or trail runners and I certainly don't try to convert them to what works for me. I did chuckle at the woman wearing Tevas and socks through Vermont as she stood in a creek washing them out but I was discrete.

Just like down vs. synthetic and alcohol vs. canister, it's a choice for each hiker to make. All we (the veterans) can do is offer our anecdotal evidence of what works for us with a caveat that it may not work for someone else.

[JimHalpert]

all things being equal, i think the lighter weight footwear you use the happier you'll be. i think there is a lot of truth in the old saying " a pound on the foot is like 5 on the back".

i use trail runners now and have had no issues. i've also used teva's and socks a couple times when i forgot to bring my trail runners, again with no issues.

during my thru i wore a pair of hiking boots from springer to damascus where i sent them home to be resoled. from damascus to the snp i wore a pair of regular running shoes. i got my boots back in the snp and i wore them to gorham, nh when the uppers finally wore out. the rest of the way i wore an old pair of cheap jc penney work boots that i used at home when split firewood. i had no issues with any of these. i had no blisters during the course of my hike.

so my perspective is that anything that fits can be used.

[Catscradle]

Originally Posted by Stalking Tortoise

My biggest issue is when a newbie comes along and is told by a veteran hiker that a specific type of footwear is best...

I'm just offering an alternative that should be considered and some of the reasons why it should be considered. As Sammy Davis Jr. once said (and I'm sure he stole it from someone else) "Different strokes for different folks".

[Stalking Tortoise]

Originally Posted by Catscradle

I'm just offering an alternative that should be considered and some of the reasons why it should be considered. As Sammy Davis Jr. once said (and I'm sure he stole it from someone else) "Different strokes for different folks".

Catscradle, I'm not referring to you in my response. As you said, you gave an opinion with some background information. My problem is with folks who say things like "You absolutely need to get a good pair of leather Gore-Tex hiking boots." or "Trail runners are the only way to go."

Different strokes for different folks indeed!

[Catscradle]

Originally Posted by Snickers06

Regarding trail runners (ie sneakers) I switch to them in Eastern PA and then switched back to boots in Vermont (lots of mud and puddles). I speak from experience. Major foot pain getting to Inn at Long Trail.

Mud & puddles are the best reason that I would use boots rather than trail runners. However, I tried real hard to find legitimate boots designed for hiking with some of minimalist considerations applied. I did find one pair of (GoLite Quest) that were zero heel drop, water proof (probably water resistant in reality), and relatively light despite being leather. I really liked them, but the first time I went out hiking on a rainy day on hilly, rocky terrain I found their flaw... the outer sole was just not composed of a sticky enough substance and it had very little traction on wet granite out-croppings. I sent an email to the company, maybe they'll read it and heed it.
I also found these Vivobarefoot Off Road Hi online, but I hesitate to spend 175 bucks without know what the traction would be like.
I inquired in this forum, and in the barefoot running Google group, for zero-drop boots/shoes that were purposely designed for hiking, but got no suggestions that were useful. I really think that what is needed is a boot designed on minimalist principles which takes into consideration the long distance hiking domain. Maybe there is a marketing opportunity here.
As to foot pain, I run 40+ miles a week on asphalt (and walk another 20 miles a week) in various trail runner models and don't seem to have a problem. However, I will have to admit, running addicts like me may have a different definition of what we consider pain.
BTW, if you look closely at my icon you may notice I have a pair of Merrill boots on.